WHO: Too Much Screen Time Bad for Children

World Health Organization (WHO) recently released guidelines as to children’s screen time. Along with this is an announcement that children 5 years of age and below should only have a maximum of an hour per day of screen time, while 1-year-olds and below should not be exposed to devices. The guidelines further provide that children 5 years of age and below should also be physically active and have enough time for sleep. WHO noted that these years are among the most formative years of children, thus it should only be monitored. Common behaviors among children of these ages which include riding motorized transports instead of walking or cycling, watching television, and playing inactive screen-based games are found to be connected with poor health. Researchers from different institutes said that the WHO guidelines were focused on screen time and did not take into consideration the quality of the material watched and the possible benefits of electronic media. While WHO did not go into detail about the harm of screen time, it noted that lack of sleep in children increases body fat and that shorter periods of sleep are linked with more screen time.

Strong Sense of Smell May Be Linked to Longer Life

In a study conducted for 13 years, researchers were able to conclude that older adults who have a stronger sense of smell are more likely to live longer. The study conducted showed that older adults who have a weak sense of smell are 30 percent more likely to die in a period of 13 years. However, the increased risk of dying was limited to those who were first reported with good-to-excellent health. This is an indication that a poor sense of smell is a possible sign of a worsening health condition even before it can be identified through medical tests. But with those adults who have poor health, the sense of smell does not make a difference. The study also showed that a poor sense of smell may be an early health warning or signal that the weakening of the human mind and body is about to begin. The study is limited as it tested the sense of smell of the subjects only once and because participants in the study are all physically active. Researchers suggest that doctors test the smell of their patients as a poor sense of smell can be a bellwether of a worsening health condition.

Dandelions: One of the Healthiest Foods on the Planet

With their radiant colors and pleasant smell, everyone loves flowers. However, the case is not the same for dandelion, which is considered the most hated flower in the United States. Despite being the most hated flower, the dandelion is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Ranking number 16 in a 2014 study of the healthiest foods, dandelion even topped the popularly healthy kale and broccoli. Dandelion is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. It also provides lots of iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It is also rich in fiber and may help in the balance of bacteria in the digestive system. Aside from the nutrients it gives, another great thing about dandelion is that there is no waste as you can eat it from the bottom of the roots to the top of the flower. The dandelion grows fast. It is drought-resistant. The roots spread easily as do their white, soft, seed-filled tops. Lastly, it is fun for children as they believe that their wishes will come true if they were able to blow all seeds off with just one breath. Even if the wish isn’t granted, the seeds have spread far and large, allowing more of this nutritious food source to flourish.

What Is the Most Popular Ethnic Food in the US?

The United States has long been considered as a melting pot – an environment where diverse individuals and classes of people coexist. That is mirrored in the country’s food choices. Food is a means for many Americans to learn and appreciate diverse cultures. According to a report, Mexican food is the most common ethnic food in the largest number of states. It is particularly common in the West Coast. However, Chinese cuisine is the most common nationwide. According to Georgie Mihaila, a food blogger, both cuisines have a colorful history attached to Chinese and Mexican immigrants in America. Restaurants serving Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisine are also gaining popularity across the region. The demand for more varied food experiences is being led by millennials. Millennials have overtaken Generation X as the country’s largest age demographic. The majority of them are between the ages of 26 and 40. These people tend to talk about their meals on social media. Americans are getting more experimental in their food selections in general.

Scientists Solve Mystery About Stonehenge

British scientists say they have solved a mystery involving Stonehenge, the well-known stone monument in Wiltshire, England. Scientists announced this week that they have discovered the origins of many of Stonehenge’s massive stones known as megaliths. People used those stones to construct milestones, landmarks, and other buildings thousands of years ago. According to the scholars, a small piece from one megalith was instrumental in solving the mystery. For over 40 years, the little piece of stone has been stored in the United States. According to chemical research, the bulk of Stonehenge’s megaliths, known as sarsens, came from a place known as the West Woods. The ancient monument is about 25 kilometers away. Researchers are still uncertain how the stones were transported to Stonehenge. David Nash of the University of Brighton who led the study clarified, “Given the size of the stones, they must have been pulled or pushed on rollers.” He added that the discovery might provide people a better understanding of the hard work behind Stonehenge.

France Wonders: Who Owns Colonial Art?

Is it an illegal act or a political one to remove an African art from a European museum? This issue has been in discussion at the French court during the trial of a Congolese activist demanding the restoration of his country’s art. “It belongs to us!” an African woman who was attending the trial cried out. After a museum lawyer claimed that the art belonged to the French state, the woman started to weep and then left the courtroom. Thousands of art pieces from former African and Asian colonies can be seen at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris. Colonial authorities took many of the precious artworks and brought them to French museums. Congo-born Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and four other activists are charged with attempted robbery after trying to steal a 19th-century African funeral pole from the museum. They livestreamed the act on Facebook, claiming it was a protest. The activists were immediately caught by officials. “We are the legitimate heirs of these works,” Diyabanza argued in a trial. He also clarified that he was not trying to nick the art, and he just wanted to uncloak its origin.

Study: Dogs Can Feel Their Owners’ Stress, Too

In a recent study published in Scientific Sports, information came that when dog owners are being subject to a long period of stress, their dogs can feel their stress too. The study was focused on 58 people who own herding dogs. The exam was conducted by looking at the presence of cortisol in the hair of both the owner and the dog. Cortisol, a hormone that is released during stressful experiences, can attach to the hair. The study found out that the amounts of cortisol found in an owner and his dog are closely matched. The researchers assumed that it is the human who influences the dog as some human personality traits can also affect a dog’s cortisol levels. Accordingly, this is not surprising as a dog’s life is mostly centered on the owner, unlike the owner which has other social networks. Recent evidence also showed that the relationship between a dog and its owner has become closely like one of a parent and child. Thus, owners are encouraged to reduce the stress they are giving to their dogs and to have fun with them instead.

The US Army Finally Gets Its Own Museum

The United States Army has opened its own museum on Veterans Day. The National Museum of the United States Army, located in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is approximately thirty kilometers from the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. The museum pursues to share the story of the country’s oldest military service, which dates back to 1775. Interactive and historical displays are housed in the five-story complex. It contains a large number of recovered papers, photographs, artworks, and various types of army equipment. It also includes a World War II Sherman tank, a Vietnam War helicopter, an armored personnel carrier from the 2003 Iraq War, and a horseback riding saddle used by Army Special Forces in the mountains of Afghanistan in 2001. A life-size display during World War II exhibits American forces arriving on the coasts of Normandy, France on Codenamed Operation Neptune, or also referred to as the ‘D-Day’. There are also guns, safety gear, and service awards on display. It also features a recovered clock, frozen at the time of impact from the 9-11 attack at the Pentagon military headquarters.